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A cyberattack believed to be linked to Iranian hackers temporarily shut down a small power plant in the United Kingdom last month. The plant was offline for four days, but the outage did not impact the wider U.K. energy system. According to The Telegraph, this incident marks the first time an Iranian-affiliated hacking group has successfully closed down a U.K. energy facility.
The attack coincided with a series of cyberattacks on U.S. water infrastructure, affecting 12 states. The U.K. government has not disclosed the location of the affected power plant due to security concerns. However, it is understood that the plant was relatively small, and its temporary closure did not pose any risk to the country's overall power supply.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is investigating the incident. The Express reports that the government has briefed energy companies and provided guidance on safeguarding against similar threats. A government spokesperson emphasized that the U.K. has a resilient energy system and that there was no risk to the wider energy infrastructure.
The cyberattack is believed to be a demonstration of the capabilities of hackers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. British and American intelligence agencies have warned about the threats posed by hackers from countries like Iran, Russia, and China. The U.K. government continues to work closely with the energy sector to maintain high security standards.